The impact of attachment styles and traumatic experiences on maladaptive daydreaming among Iranian population: the mediating role of shame and emotion dysregulation".

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a pathological form of fantasy that can lead to distress, replace human interaction, and/or interfere with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning, affecting approximately two and a half percent of the general population. previous studies have typically examined individual antecedents of MD in isolation, without exploring potential mediating or interacting mechanisms among psychological variables. a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms requires a systematic approach capable of assessing the complex interplay among multiple variables. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships between traumatic experiences, attachment styles, and MD, with shame and emotion dysregulation as mediating factors. A community-based sample of just over four hundred Iranian adults (Mean age = 29.47 years, SD = 9.61, age range = 18-60), with nearly two-thirds identified as female, was recruited via online convenience sampling. Participants completed the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16), the Revised Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire (ECR-R), the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Internalized Shame Scale (ISS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation was employed to examine mediating relationships among the study variables. Findings indicated that anxious attachment and emotion dysregulation were significant antecedents of MD, while avoidant attachment and shame did not exhibit significant effects. Emotion dysregulation emerged as a key mediator between anxious attachment and MD, highlighting the role of impaired emotional coping in excessive daydreaming. Conversely, the hypothesized mediating role of shame was not supported. Traumatic experiences were directly associated with MD, but this relationship was not mediated by shame or emotion dysregulation. Overall, attachment styles and traumatic experiences accounted for significant variation in MD, with emotion dysregulation serving as a key mediator. In terms of clinical practice, the findings suggest that interventions focusing on enhancing emotional regulation skills and addressing insecure attachment patterns may help reduce excessive daydreaming and improve overall functioning in affected individuals.